Part 1 is a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of oral administration of 3 dosage levels of KNS 760704 vs. placebo for 12 weeks.

Part 2 is a randomized, double-blind, 2-arm, parallel group, extension study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of oral administration of 2 dosage levels of KNS-760704 for up to 76 weeks.

This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of KNS-760704 compared to placebo. The study will be conducted in 2 parts.

In Part 1, approximately 80 eligible patients will be randomized to 1 of 4 treatment groups for 12 weeks of treatment: placebo; low-dose; mid-dose; or high-dose KNS-760704. Participants meeting eligibility requirements will be enrolled at approximately 20 centers in the U.S. In addition to the visit to determine eligibility and the first visit to take study drug, participants will be required to make 5 additional research clinic visits in Part 1.

Participants who complete all 12 weeks of Part 1 will be eligible for randomization to Part 2. The duration of Part 2 of the study is 76 weeks. Subjects will receive 1 of 2 active treatment groups for 72 weeks (low-dose or high-dose KNS-760704) and placebo for the remaining 4-week period in Part 2. Participants will not be told when the 4 weeks of placebo treatment will be given. During Part 2, participants will be required to make 12 research clinic visits, including the baseline visit.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

21 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with diagnosis of familial or sporadic ALS, defined as meeting the possible, laboratory-supported probable, probable, or definite criteria for a diagnosis of ALS according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial criteria

Patients with ALS symptom onset < 24 months from randomization

Patients with upright VC > 65% of predicted for age, height, and gender

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients in whom causes of neuromuscular weakness other than ALS have not been excluded

Patients without clinical evidence of upper motor neuron dysfunction

Patients with clinically suspected ALS according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial criteria

Patients with prior exposure to KNS-760704 or the R(+) enantiomer of pramipexole (i.e., R(+)-pramipexole)

Patients taking other investigational agents (including lithium) within 30 days of randomization or during the study

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00647296